RUBBER GAME: The teams split the first two games of the series. The Yankees have won 11 of their last 14 but have lost three of their last five.

BURNED, BABY BURNED: A.J Burnett, as feared, has been inconsistent. After winning his first two starts as a Yankee and pitching well, Burnett is 0-2 with a 6.04 ERA in the seven starts since. He has allowed 46 hits (nine home runs) and walked 25 over 44.2 innings.

THE STREAK LIVES: The Yankees have gone 13 straight games without an error. That is a franchise record.

GRITTY, GUTTY: Brett Gardner is 11 of his last 26 (.422) with five extra-base hits, four RBI and only one strikeout.

COKE USED TO BE IT. NOT SO MUCH ANY MORE: Phil Coke (or as Joe Girardi pronounces it, “Scott Proctor”) has had a rough last eight outings. He has allowed six earned runs on eight hits anf four walks over 9.2 innings. Four of the eight hits have been home runs and he has struck out only four.

STREAKS: Derek Jeter has a 10-game hit streak. Since missing two games with that oblique strain in Toronto, he has raised his batting average from .273 to .287. … Mark Teixeira has hit in nine straight, going from .231 to .271.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Yankees are a solid-enough 12-11 away from the Boogie Down.

Back later with much more.

UPDATE, 4:09 p.m.: Here’s a report from Tampa via the AP:

Yankees catcher Jorge Posada played five innings of defense in an extended spring training intrasquad game Wednesday and is hopeful of rejoining the team during a series that starts Friday night in Cleveland.

Posada strained his right hamstring in a game May 4 against Boston and is on the 15-day disabled list.

He ran from first to third on a single and threw out a runner attempting to steal second base. The five-time AL All-Star played three innings in the field during a simulated game Tuesday.

“It feels good when I’m running,” Posada said. “The hamstring is good. Now it’s seeing some pitches, getting some at-bats and catching more.”

Posada, hitless in four at-bats, flied out twice, struck out, reached on an error and walked.

Outfielder Xavier Nady and infielder Cody Ransom also took part in the extended spring game as designated hitters. Nady went 1 for 3 with a walk. Ransom hit a long homer off Humberto Sanchez and walked twice.

Backup catcher Jose Molina went through extensive defensive drills, but did not participate in the extended spring game.

Melky Cabrera: He had an MRI and will be sent back to New York tomorrow to be examined by team doctor Chris Ahmad. The initial diagnosis is that he will be out 5-7 days. If it’s more than that, they will probably DL him and call up an infielder.

Meanwhile — get this — Ramiro Pena was taking balls in the outfield today. Once again we ask: Why is Angel Berroa still on the roster?

Brian Bruney: Dr. James Andrews checked him out and he came up clean. No ligament issue. He has a flexor muscle strain and whatever pain he still has is a residual of that. He will rest and start a throwing program. Because Bruney fibbed about how he felt last time, you can bet he’ll out at least another 2-3 weeks at least.

Jorge Posada: He will be activated on Friday in Cleveland unless he gets hit by a bus in Tampa. He’s probably only going to work out tomorrow. Joe Girardi it was a “strong possibility” that Posada would be activated which is way of saying, “Posada will be activated.”

Girardi said they need to discuss who will be dropped off the roster. Kevin Cash one would think. But who knows?

UPDATE, 7:08 p.m.: We’re underway in Arlington. 80 degrees not a cloud in the sky. I think this is a pivotal game for A.J. Burnett. The Pie Man needs to be an $82.5 million pitcher at some point.

Meanwhile, Jeter now has an 11-game hitting streak and Teixeira just hit a bomb to left. 2-0 Yankees.

UPDATE, 8:19 p.m.: I have some newspaper work to get to, so updates could be scarce for a bit. Enjoy the game.

UPDATE, 9:50 p.m.: Methinks A.J. Burnett is going to get himself a pie in the face the way this thing is going. His line through 5: 3 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts.

UPDATE, 10:11 p.m.: It’s 6-0 and the Yankees have three healthy outfielders. Johnny Damon doesn’t need to be taking on any fences. That said, nice grab.

UPDATE, 10:19 p.m.: Burnett is at 117 pitches. That’ll be it for him. That’s not particularly economical for six innings. But six shutout innings, you can’t complain about that. Now they need to find six outs in the bullpen before giving Mo a little work. He hasn’t pitched since Sunday and there’s a day off tomorrow. Or maybe use Wang for three? No, of course not.

UPDATE, 10:38 p.m.: The first batter has reached on Veras 10 times in 21 appearances. You could put the ball on a tee and get more outs.

UPDATE, 10:43 p.m.: If there some way the Yankees would not be a better team if they DFA’d Berroa and Veras and added John Rodriguez and Mark Melancon? Or any two passers-by on the street?

Veras has thrown 20 innings and allowed 17 hits and 13 walks.

UPDATE, 10:48 p.m.: Girardi must be pleased. He can use Phil Coke at some point.

UPDATE, 10:54 p.m.: David Robertson throws strikes with the lead. What a concept. Joe Torre may have wore relievers out. But at least he wore out the good ones and got everything out of them. Girardi wears out the bad ones.

UPDATE, 10:57 p.m.: Now Wang is warming up. But I don’t think he’s necessarily coming in. He may just be getting work in.

UPDATE, 11:02 p.m.: Nope he’s coming in. Why bring him in now as opposed to the seventh inning? If there is some plan for Wang, it’s not readily apparent.

UPDATE, 11:12 p.m.: 1-2-3 inning for Wang drops his ERA to 22.50!

Hey, he has to start somewhere. He had good action on the sinker.

UPDATE, 11:15 p.m.: In what should be his final appearance as a Yankee, Angel Berroa is pinch running for Matsui.

I heard he’s on the juice anyway. Prune juice.

(I didn’t come up with that, somebody else in the press box did. But I will not divulge who.)

UPDATE, 11:23 p.m.: Berroa out by 10 feet. That should be his final act as a Yankee. Fitting in a way. He had that wheelchair going as fast as he could.